Powder Skirt Coupling System

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a releasable powder skirt coupling system including a lower body garment, a skirt member, a plurality of garment couplers, and a plurality of skirt couplers. The garment couplers include a male post positioned circumferentially around the external surface waist region of the lower body garment within partially enclosed flap regions. The skirt couplers include a claw member positioned circumferentially around the bottom internal surface edge of the skirt member. The claw members are oriented away from the bottom edge. The claw members are configured to fit within the partially enclosed flap regions and releasably couple with the male post of one of the garment couplers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to cold weather outdoor garment systems. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved powder skirt coupling system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cold weather outdoor garments are used to both insulate heat and protect users from external moisture. For example, jackets and pants are commonly worn during snow sports to regulate body temperature by conserving internal body heat and preventing snow contact. Cold weather garments must be specifically designed to articulate in response to various user movements to facilitate full range of motion and thereby unrestricted, optimal performance during snow sports. For example, the arm portions of a jacket must be stitched to the torso portion such that a user can raise their hands over their head.

One of the common problems with conventional jacket and pant type designs in the case of snow sport activities is the potential opening or gap created at the waist between the jacket and pants. For example, when a user bends at the waist, the jacket may rise and the pants may lower, thereby creating torso exposure. This exposure may result in snow or other moisture contacting the user, resulting in both discomfort and a temperature decrease. Various solutions have been attempted, including jackets with longer torso design, bibs, waist belts, etc. However, these solutions still fail to prevent exposure in all circumstances and therefore only mitigate the problem.

The most effective solution to avoid the jacket-pant gap is the intercoupling of a powder skirt. The term powder skirt is broadly used to describe any sleeve designed to prevent snow from contacting the user. A powder skirt may also be referred to as a snow skirt. The powder skirt is generally coupled to the interior side of the jacket and the exterior of the pants, thereby covering any potential gap by creating an internested series of garments. The powder skirt may optionally include elasticity to enable stretching. By coupling the powder skirt to both the jacket and pants while also extending around the circumference of the user's waist, any possibility of exposure is substantially eliminated. The powder skirt may be either permanently or releasably coupled to the interior of the jacket. However, an inherent problem created by the powder skirt is the necessary releasable coupling to the exterior surface of the pants to facilitate ease of removal when necessary.

Unfortunately, conventional powder skirt pant couplings are unnecessarily cumbersome, unreliable, and/or inefficient. Conventional powder skirt-pant coupling systems utilize zipper coupling, VELCRO, snap hooks, etc. All of these releasable coupler systems are unreliable in that debris and/or abrasions may negatively affect operation over time. Likewise, the conventional releasable coupler systems are cumbersome, requiring a user to perform dexterous motions to couple/decouple the powder skirt which may not be possible while wearing gloves or mittens. Finally, all of the conventional releasable coupling systems include members which may cause discomfort to the user in certain abrasion scenarios (i.e. a zipper rubbing against the naval region).

Therefore, there is a need in the industry for an improved releasable powder skirt-pant coupling system that overcomes the problems of conventional systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cold weather outdoor garment systems. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a releasable powder skirt coupling system including a lower body garment, a skirt member, a plurality of garment couplers, and a plurality of skirt couplers. The garment couplers include a male post positioned circumferentially around the external surface waist region of the lower body garment within partially enclosed flap regions. The skirt couplers include a claw member positioned circumferentially around the bottom internal surface edge of the skirt member. The claw members are oriented away from the bottom edge. The claw members are configured to fit within the partially enclosed flap regions and releasably couple with the male post of one of the garment couplers. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for releasably coupling a skirt member to a lower body garment including aligning a plurality of skirt couplers with a plurality of garment couplers, routing a claw member disposed on the internal side of the skirt member within a flap opening on the lower body garment into a partially enclosed flap region, and releasably coupling the claw member over a male post disposed within the partially enclosed flap region.

Embodiments of the present invention represent a significant advance in the field of releasable powder skirt coupling systems. Existing coupling systems are unnecessarily cumbersome, thereby preventing a user from coupling/decoupling the powder skirt from the lower body garment while wearing any type of glove or mitten. In addition, existing systems are unreliable because they include components which may become damaged as a result of impact or abrasion. For example, the tines of a zipper are susceptible to damage, which may prevent proper coupling. Likewise, components of existing systems are potentially uncomfortable to the user during impact. Finally, existing systems may include unaesthetic exposed components which diminish the visual appearance of the lower body garment. Embodiments of the present invention overcome these problems by providing a reliable, releasable coupling system that includes garment couplers disposed within a substantially flush flap and skirt couplers disposed on the internal side. The components of both the garment couplers and skirt couplers are composed of impact resistant materials with minimal thickness and bulk.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description of the invention can be understood in light of the Figures, which illustrate specific aspects of the invention and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the invention. In the Figures, the physical dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions will be omitted.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a powder skirt coupling system including a skirt member and a lower body garment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a powder skirt coupling system including a skirt member, and upper body garment, and a lower body garment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic external view of a skirt coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic internal view of a skirt coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic profile view of a skirt coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 3D illustrates a schematic perspective view of a skirt coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4A illustrates a schematic external view of a garment coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4B illustrates a schematic internal view of a garment coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4C illustrates multiple views of the male rivet member portion of the garment coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4D illustrates multiple views of the female rivet member portion of the garment coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4E illustrates a cutaway profile schematic of the garment coupler in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5A illustrates an operational external view of the powder skirt coupling system in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating an initial alignment of a skirt coupler with a garment coupler;

FIG. 5B illustrates an operational internal view of the powder skirt coupling system in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating an initial alignment of a skirt coupler with a garment coupler;

FIG. 5C illustrates a precoupling view of the powder skirt coupling system in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating an initial alignment of a skirt coupler with a garment coupler; and

FIG. 5D illustrates a postcoupling view of the powder skirt coupling system in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating a releasable coupling of a skirt coupler with a garment coupler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cold weather outdoor garment systems. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a releasable powder skirt coupling system including a lower body garment, a skirt member, a plurality of garment couplers, and a plurality of skirt couplers. The garment couplers include a male post positioned circumferentially around the external surface waist region of the lower body garment within partially enclosed flap regions. The skirt couplers include a claw member positioned circumferentially around the bottom internal surface edge of the skirt member. The claw members are oriented away from the bottom edge. The claw members are configured to fit within the partially enclosed flap regions and releasably couple with the male post of one of the garment couplers. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for releasably coupling a skirt member to a lower body garment including aligning a plurality of skirt couplers with a plurality of garment couplers, routing a claw member disposed on the internal side of the skirt member within a flap opening on the lower body garment into a partially enclosed flap region, and releasably coupling the claw member over a male post disposed within the partially enclosed flap region. Also, while embodiments are described in reference to releasably coupling a powder skirt to a lower body garment, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to other types of releasable couplings including those for upper body garments.

The following terms are defined as follows:

Definitions

Garment—article of clothing worn over a portion of a user's body including but not limited to pants, shorts, shirts, jackets, etc. A lower body garment in particular describes an article of clothing worn over the lower body such as a pair of pants. Likewise, an upper body garment refers to an article of clothing worn over the upper body such as a shirt or jacket.

Powder skirt—a cylindrical piece of material worn around the waist region of a user to protect from potential torso exposure between an upper and lower body garment. A powder skirt may be coupled to an internal surface of an upper body garment and include an elastic band on the bottom edge.

Flap—an overlapping region of materials. For example, a garment may include a flap of external materials. At the bottom edge of the top material of the flap, a line may be externally visible. The two materials may be stitched along the bottom edge of the external material, thereby sealing the gap. Alternatively, a portion of the bottom edge may not be stitched/coupled, thereby creating an opening and a region therebetween.

Claw—a type of female coupler that enables a lateral releasable coupling with a corresponding male post.

Male post—a cylindrical member configured for lateral releasable coupling with a corresponding claw.

Reference is initially made to FIGS. 1-2, which illustrate perspective views of a powder skirt coupling system, designated generally at 100. The system 100 includes a lower body garment 180, a skirt member 120, and an upper body garment 160. FIG. 1 shows the skirt member 120 with only the lower body garment 180 for illustration purposes. The illustrated lower body garment 180 is a pair of pants, but it will be appreciated that other lower body garments may be used, including but not limited to bibs, shorts, harnesses, etc. The lower body garment 180 includes a waist region corresponding to the location at which a user's waist would be disposed. The waist region of the illustrated lower body garment 180 (i.e. pants) corresponds to the upper edge of the garment. The lower body garment 180 also includes an internal surface 184 (see FIG. 4) and an external surface 182. The lower body garment further includes a plurality of garment couplers 140 not visible in FIGS. 1-2, which will be described further in reference to FIG. 4. The illustrated upper body garment 160 is a jacket, but it will be appreciated that other upper body garments may be used, including but not limited to shirts, vests, suspenders, chest harnesses, etc. The upper body garment 160 further includes an internal surface 164 and an external surface 162. The user's hands 88 are shown in FIG. 2 holding open a portion of the upper body garment 160 for illustration purposes.

The skirt member 120 is a cylindrical piece of material configured to encircle the region between the lower body garment 180 and upper body garment 160. The skirt members 120 may also be referred to as a powder skirt or snow skirt in accordance with industry terms. The illustrated skirt member 120 includes a waist coupler 126 disposed such as to correspond to a user's navel region. The waist coupler 126 includes a plurality of releasable couplings, enabling the user to open/close the skirt member 120 around their body. The skirt member 120 further includes a top edge 128 and a bottom edge 129. The top edge 128 is releasably coupled to the internal surface 164 of the upper body garment 160 via some form of releasable coupling. It will be appreciated that the coupling system described between the skirt member 120 and the lower body garment 180 may also be used between the skirt member 120 and the upper body garment 160 in alternative embodiments. The bottom edge 129 may include an elastic region. The elastic region may cause the bottom edge 129 to adjustably tighten around the user. For example, the bottom edge 129 of the skirt member 120 may be translated downward from the upper body garment 160 over a portion of the lower body garment 180; the elastic region will correspondingly tighten over the vertical location on the external surface 182 of the lower body garment 180. The skirt member 120 further includes an internal surface 124 and an external surface 122. The skirt member 120 is specifically intercoupled with the upper and lower garments 160, 180 such that the external surface 122 of the skirt member 120 extend from the internal surface 164 of the upper body garment 160 to the external surface 182 of the lower body garment 180. This specific intercoupling scheme may also be referred to as vertically cascading because the external surfaces of the upper body garment 160, skirt member 120, and lower body garment 180 are sequentially vertically positioned from top to bottom.

The skirt member 120 is releasably coupled to the lower body garment 180 via a plurality of skirt couplers 130 and garment couplers 140. As described above, the skirt member 120 may be coupled to and housed within the upper body garment 160. If a user intends to engage or use the skirt member 120, the bottom edge 129 is translated down over the lower body garment 180, and the plurality of skirt couplers 130 are releasably engaged with the garment couplers 140, thereby securing the skirt members 120 to the lower body garment 180. The specific components of the couplers 130, 140 and the operational coupling scheme will be described in more detail below.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 3A-D, which illustrate schematic views of a skirt coupler, designated generally at 130. The skirt coupler 130 includes a claw member 134 intercoupled with a cover member 132. The skirt coupler 130 and cover members 132 may be intercoupled at a bottom region with a U-shape to permit coupling over the bottom edge 129 of the skirt member 120. The skirt coupler 130 may be composed of a plastic material permitting a certain degree of compliance. The cover member 132 is disposed over the external surface 122 of the skirt member 120, and the claw member 134 is disposed over the internal surface 124 of the skirt member 120 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The cover member 132 provides the user with a visual indicator of the location of each skirt coupler 130, while the claw member 134 provides the actual coupling. The claw member 134 is therefore shielded from debris, damage, and abrasion. The claw member 134 is oriented away from the bottom edge 129 of the skirt member 120 (i.e. upwards in FIGS. 1 and 2). The skirt coupler 130 may be stitched, adhered, or welded to the skirt members 120. The claw member 134 further includes a left hook 135, claw opening 136, right hook 137, and partially enclosed claw region 138. The diameter of the claw opening 136 is smaller than the diameter of the partially enclosed claw region 138. The diameters of both the claw opening 136 and the partially enclosed claw region 138 correspond to the diameter of the male post 141 of the garment coupler (See FIGS. 4A-E). The shape and composition of the hooks 135, 137 may function to create a resistant spring effect when a male post is translated through the claw opening 136. The hooks 135, 137 further function to partially enclose the partially enclosed claw region 138. A particular force is thereby necessary to translate a male post into or out of the partially enclosed claw region 138 in accordance with a releasable coupling scheme.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 4A-E, which illustrate schematic views of a garment coupler, designated generally at 140. The garment couplers 140 are each disposed within a partially enclosed flap region 186 accessible via a flap opening 188 on the external surface 182 of the lower body garment 180. The partially enclosed flap region 186 and flap opening 188 are also specifically sized to correspond to the female claw member 134 of the skirt coupler 130. The garment coupler 140 may be composed of a plastic material permitting a certain degree of compliance. The garment coupler 140 includes a male rivet member 142, optional spacer 143, and female rivet member 144. The male rivet member 142 and optional spacer 143 form the male post 141. It will be appreciated that the spacer 143 may be incorporated with the male rivet member 142 as a single component. The male rivet member 142 includes a hood region and a post region. The hood region is coupled to an internal portion of the upper part of the partially enclosed flap region 186. The hood region may facilitate a raising or maintaining of the partially enclosed flap region 186. The post region functions in conjunction with the spacer 143 to provide the male post 141 over which the claw member 134 of the skirt coupler 130 releasably couples. The specific diameter of the male post 141 corresponds to the claw member 134 of the skirt coupler 130 as described above. The male post 141 is cylindrical and has a substantially circular cross-section. The female rivet member 144 sandwich couples with the male post 141 over a bottom portion of the partially enclosed flap region 186. The female rivet member 144 also includes a cover region disposed below the internal surface of the lower body garment 184 and a female post region within which the male rivet member 142 engages. FIG. 4E illustrates one specific coupling scheme of the garment coupler 140 with respect to layers of the lower body garment 180.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 5A-D, which illustrate an operational coupling scheme of a skirt coupler 130 and a garment coupler 140. FIGS. 5A-D illustrate a single skirt coupler 130 to garment coupler 140 sequence. Embodiments of the present invention include a plurality of skirt couplers 130 and garment couplers 140 spaced circumferentially around the bottom edge 128 of the skirt member 120 and waist region of the lower body garment 180. FIG. 5A illustrates an initial alignment of the skirt coupler 130 with the garment coupler 140. The user is able to visually align/orient the cover member 132 on the bottom edge 129 of the skirt member 120 with the flap opening 188 on the lower body garment 180. FIG. 5B illustrates the internal sides 124, 184 of the skirt member 120 portion and lower body garment 180 portion illustrated in FIG. 5A showing the specific claw member 134, female river member 144, and the partially enclosed flap region 186. FIG. 5C also illustrates aligning the claw member 134 portion of the skirt coupler 130 with the partially enclosed flap region 186 housing the male post 141 of the garment coupler 140. FIG. 5D illustrates the releasable coupling of the skirt coupler 130 with the garment coupler 140, including engaging the claw member 134 over the male post 141. The male post 141 is releasably engaged within the partially enclosed claw region 138 and within the partially enclosed flap region 186 of the lower body garment 180. FIG. 5D shows the claw member 134 extending through the flap opening 186 into the partially enclosed flap region 188.

It should be noted that various alternative system designs may be practiced in accordance with the present invention, including one or more portions or concepts of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 or described above. Various other embodiments have been contemplated, including combinations in whole or in part of the embodiments described above. 

1. A powder skirt coupling system comprising: a lower body garment configured to be worn over a user's lower body including a waist region corresponding to the navel region of the user; a skirt member configured to encircle the waist region of the user, wherein the skirt member includes a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein the skirt member includes an internal surface and an external surface; a plurality of garment couplers disposed on the lower body garment, wherein the garment couplers each include a male post substantially disposed within a partially enclosed flap region on the lower body garment; and a plurality of skirt couplers disposed substantially adjacent to the bottom edge of the skirt member, wherein the skirt couplers each include a claw member oriented away from the bottom edge, wherein each claw member is configured to fit within the partially enclosed flap region and releasably couple with the male post of one of the garment couplers, and wherein the claw member of each skirt coupler is disposed on the internal surface of the skirt member.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the male post includes a male rivet member, a spacer, and a female rivet member intercoupled over at least one portion of the lower body garment.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the partially enclosed flap region includes a flap opening oriented away from the waist region.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the partially enclosed flap region is substantially externally flush with adjacent exterior regions of the lower body garment.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the claw member is intercoupled with a cover member over the bottom edge of the skirt member.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cover member is disposed adjacent to the external surface and the claw member is disposed adjacent to the interior surface of the skirt member.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lower body garment is at least one of pants and bibs.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of garment couplers are circumferentially spaced apart from one another on the waist region of the lower body garment.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of skirt couplers are circumferentially spaced apart from one another substantially adjacent to the bottom edge of the skirt member.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of garment couplers are configured to independently releasably couple with one of the plurality of skirt couplers.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the claw members include a left hook, a claw opening, a right hook, and a partially enclosed claw region, and wherein the partially enclosed claw region corresponds in diameter to the male post of each garment coupler.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the claw opening is disposed between the left and right hook, and wherein the claw opening includes a smaller diameter than the partially enclosed claw region.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the top edge of the skirt member is coupled to an internal surface of an upper body garment.
 14. A powder skirt coupling system comprising: a lower body garment configured to be worn over a user's lower body including a waist region corresponding to the navel region of the user; a skirt member configured to encircle the waist region of the user, wherein the skirt member includes a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein the skirt member includes an internal surface and an external surface; a plurality of garment couplers disposed on the lower body garment, wherein the garment couplers each include a male post substantially disposed within a partially enclosed flap region on the lower body garment; and a plurality of skirt couplers disposed substantially adjacent to the bottom edge of the skirt member, wherein the skirt couplers each include a claw member oriented away from the bottom edge, wherein each claw member is configured to fit within the partially enclosed flap region and releasably couple with the male post of one of the garment couplers, and wherein the claw member of each skirt coupler is disposed on the internal surface of the skirt member, and wherein each of the claw memberss include a left hook, a claw opening, a right hook, and a partially enclosed claw region, and wherein the partially enclosed claw region corresponds in diameter to the male post of each garment coupler, and wherein the claw opening is disposed between the left and right hook, and wherein the claw opening includes a smaller diameter than the partially enclosed claw region.
 15. A method for releasably coupling a powder skirt to a lower body garment comprising the acts of: providing a lower body garment configured to be worn over a user's lower body including a waist region corresponding to the navel region of the user; providing a skirt member configured to encircle the waist region of the user, wherein the skirt member includes a top edge and a bottom edge, and wherein the skirt member includes an internal surface and an external surface; providing a plurality of garment couplers disposed on the lower body garment, wherein the garment couplers each include a male post substantially disposed within a partially enclosed flap region on the lower body garment; and providing a plurality of skirt couplers disposed substantially adjacent to the bottom edge of the skirt member, wherein the skirt couplers each include a claw member oriented away from the bottom edge, wherein each claw member is configured to fit within the partially enclosed flap region and releasably couple with the male post of one of the garment couplers, and wherein the claw member of each skirt coupler is disposed on the internal surface of the skirt member; extending the bottom edge of the skirt member over the waist region of the lower body garment such that a portion of the internal surface is over the waist region; aligning a plurality of skirt couplers disposed on the bottom edge of the skirt member with a plurality of garment couplers disposed on the waist region of the lower body garment; and releasably coupling each of the plurality of skirt couplers with the garment couplers including: routing a claw member disposed on the internal side of the skirt member within a flap opening on the lower body garment into a partially enclosed flap region; releasably coupling the claw member over a male post disposed within the partially enclosed flap region.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the claw members include a left hook, a claw opening, a right hook, and a partially enclosed claw region, and wherein the partially enclosed claw region corresponds in diameter to the male post of each garment coupler, and wherein the act of releasably coupling the claw member over a male post disposed within the partially enclosed flap region includes routing the male post through the claw opening and within the partially enclosed internal claw region.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the male post includes a male rivet member intercoupled with a female rivet member over a portion of the lower body garment.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the flap opening on the lower body garment is substantially externally flush with adjacent exterior regions of the lower body garment.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the act of aligning a plurality of skirt couplers disposed on the bottom edge of the skirt member with a plurality of garment couplers disposed on the waist region of the lower body garment includes aligning a cover member disposed on the external surface of the power skirt with the garment couplers, and wherein the cover member is coupled with the claw member around the bottom edge of the skirt member.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the top edge of the skirt member is coupled to an internal surface of an upper body garment. 